Who knows, so far nothing to indicate such over the air. I did catch a few control channel rolls this morning @ 26 and 27, so maybe they're fiddling around with something up there. Those channels don't roll very often, so while it could be something external like an illegal carrier...well, who the hell knows. The fact that the Sussex patrols seem to be one of the first noted to cut over to the ASTRO 25 system might be a clue as to the timeline for Hamburg to spring to life, and for 26 and 27 to join it to form the cell (finally).
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I took at look w UT at Site 60, no surprises really, the usual cast of TG’s with however the following observations.
No B2-5 affiliations or calls, that was for about 30 minutes.
TG 1677 Northstar affiliations and calls. Seems to validate as I hear more and more traffic from Aero Medical on ICS, looks like the unit at KSMQ has moved over. All AeroMedical on ICS is by site affiation only I believe.
Denials: MedCentral Comm 2 4409 several, Parkway Central3 Comm 3331.
All site specifics match with the DB perfectly. That’s all.
Channel lineup change at High Point (Site 26). Ch 5's frequency was swapped out, and an additional repeater was added (Ch 6). The control channels remain the same, these are both traffic channels, so no changes to any scanner programming are required.
Of note, these two new frequencies are off the WQYK287 license for the Sussex County simulcast. It seems that they're reconfiguring the ESS racks at High Point and Walpack to accommodate the new frequencies, and once the Hamburg site is ready to go, they'll reprogram a few more repeaters and the simulcast will eventually come to life. I expect to see Walpack's channel lineup soon change as well.
Of note, these two new frequencies are off the WQYK287 license for the Sussex County simulcast. It seems that they're reconfiguring the ESS racks at High Point and Walpack to accommodate the new frequencies, and once the Hamburg site is ready to go, they'll reprogram a few more repeaters and the simulcast will eventually come to life. I expect to see Walpack's channel lineup soon change as well.
From what I recall, the only thing Hamburg was waiting for was backhaul. Perhaps that's complete?
Certainly possible, and if that's the case, we should know in short order. For now I'm just treating it for what it is...adding an additional repeater and shuffling some frequencies around.
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I stand corrected.On Site 60 for a while tonight. Indeed as @RadioDitch stated as likely B2-5 IS on Site 60 as well.😄
markjrenna
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Is B2-5 on site 33?
Possible as Randolph does cover the north end of Somerville's district on I-287. Worth checking.
Also, just to note for my fellow detail obsessed enthusiasts. B2-05 refers to the 800 system. On the PSIC/ICS it's 7B2-05.
8bd = 8bd 🤷♂️
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Can’t resist...2237 = 2237
I if I have time next week, I can confirm if the Hamburg install is done or not. My thoughts are...not yet.
Knew that'd get you.
That'd be great Ed. Like I said. If I recall, backhaul was all they were waiting on. I could easily have been misinformed or be misremembering though.
markjrenna
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I did hear B2-5 on site 33. Not much comms for the 20 minutes I listened to it but they are on it.
Does anyone know if B2-5 and or B2-4 are on sites 24 (Netcong) and 30 (Bowling Green)?
Does anyone know if B2-5 and or B2-4 are on sites 24 (Netcong) and 30 (Bowling Green)?
The standard answer applies...if there is an affiliation, there will be traffic.
Keep in mind that just because traffic is heard at a given point in time, does not guarantee that it's carried full time. I see the 2-Comm Sussex TG frequently come and go on High Point, whereas the traffic from that TG is pretty much carried full time on Walpack. And yes, that's after they cut over to 700, with High Point being a major site in the NW part of the state, and even that doesn't guarantee full time traffic.
Keep in mind that just because traffic is heard at a given point in time, does not guarantee that it's carried full time. I see the 2-Comm Sussex TG frequently come and go on High Point, whereas the traffic from that TG is pretty much carried full time on Walpack. And yes, that's after they cut over to 700, with High Point being a major site in the NW part of the state, and even that doesn't guarantee full time traffic.
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I was in Sussex County today. When done, I rode up to the top of the new proposed site. Both gates were open despite an impressive array of locks.
I looked at both smaller towers and could not tell much. A search of both 700 and 800 bands yielded no P25 CC of any kind yet.
I was in site scan and noticed all the 7B2-02 traffic on both 26 & 27. RF in by subs sounded good.
While on the drive up 287N to 80 West, 7B2-05 on Site 60 and Site 33. 7B2-04 on 1,33,24,27. ICS activity levels way up on the Troops and the sites, by affiliation as @GTR8000 points out. Aeromedical again on 60 and 27.
This location will fill in the SE corner of the county nicely.
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Yeah, Hamburg is definitely not on the air yet, that much I know for sure. It's just a question of how far the installation has progressed. I'll be keeping a close eye on Walpack tomorrow and the coming days to see if that gets reconfigured as High Point did.
Just to really illustrate the "only if affiliated" point...here's a screenshot I just took of a side by side of High Point and Walpack. Note that 7B2-02 (@RadioDitch lol) hasn't been active in nearly two hours on High Point, while it's humming away on Walpack. Given the fact that they cut over to 700 and those are the only two sites in the county, it drives home the point that the ASTRO 25 system is very stingy when it comes to channel resources, and will make every effort to be as efficient as possible. No radio affiliated at a site = no traffic carried on that talkgroup. And of course, talkgroups can come and go on a whim. Yes, if there is a control station normally affiliated with a site, it will more or less make it a permanent thing to carry that traffic, but YMMV.
Just to really illustrate the "only if affiliated" point...here's a screenshot I just took of a side by side of High Point and Walpack. Note that 7B2-02 (@RadioDitch lol) hasn't been active in nearly two hours on High Point, while it's humming away on Walpack. Given the fact that they cut over to 700 and those are the only two sites in the county, it drives home the point that the ASTRO 25 system is very stingy when it comes to channel resources, and will make every effort to be as efficient as possible. No radio affiliated at a site = no traffic carried on that talkgroup. And of course, talkgroups can come and go on a whim. Yes, if there is a control station normally affiliated with a site, it will more or less make it a permanent thing to carry that traffic, but YMMV.
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. Note that 7B2-02 (@RadioDitch lol)........
“Yes, if there is a control station normally affiliated with a site, it will more or less make it a permanent thing to carry that traffic, but YMMV.”
Which is why I hear AeroMedical consistently on 60, they have a control station and Somerville has one as well, hence on 28 seemingly full time.
So perhaps if someone is looking for a particular Troop full time while at a fixed location, a place to start would be the closest ICS site (s) to a Troops station.
7B2-04 (Totowa) is a great example on West Orange Site 01.
@RadioDitch started it (7B).😂
NorthSTAR never kills the radio in the hangar at Somerset Airport, and they monitor both systems, so at least JEMSTAR North should almost always be present on 60 (Pluckemin). Same for Somerset Barracks as you noted. As to 7B2-04, it should be almost always present on 24 (Netcong) being the site is located at the barracks and the station usually has a PSIC/ICS radio on and affiliated.
It's my OCD going by the State Police code plug. 😂
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Surprised that the gates were left open. Not like SECTV, NJPBA or WSUS to leave anything open, even the gate at the bottom of the hill. I will be there probably Thursday and will see where things are with the Hamburg site. I dont even think the ASR is bolted down..but I could be surprised.
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